Tag Archives: cape town

WhereIsMyTransport is a rapidly growing, Cape Town-based technology start up that is redefining public transport in emerging cities mainly through Africa. They provide an integrated public transport platform that enables cities, operators, and developers to optimize service and bring a scalable, sustainable solution to public transport, specifically in emerging markets with a high degree of informal transport.

WhereIsMyTransport’s 13 local data collectors spent three weeks recording taxi journeys in Cape Town, mapping 657 unique routes, covering 8 870 km’s, and capturing 1 482 of the most commonly used stops, with an average journey cost of R10.86 ($0.80).

These data points have been added to the WhereIsMyTransport platform alongside data for the city’s formal transport network to provide a complete picture of all of the transport options available to residents of the city.

Devin De Vries, co-founder of WhereIsMyTransport, comments: “Fully mapping Cape Town is a phenomenal achievement for our team. We’ve demonstrated that complex transport systems can be mapped at a much lower cost than many cities believe. With our efficient technology and methodology, even large cities don’t need to spend millions to map their networks.

“We have already mapped two more cities and will be releasing data for South Africa’s major metros this year. And that’s just the beginning: we’re excited by the potential for cities across Africa.”

Cape Town will be followed by East London and Gaborone in March 2017. WhereIsMyTransport will continue collecting taxi network data in South Africa’s major cities including Port Elizabeth, Durban, Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, and Bloemfontein, all due to be complete by mid-2017.

The company is in discussion with cities and local partners with the intention of fully mapping 20 African cities by the end of 2018. It already holds data on informally-run networks in Accra and Nairobi.

While the company currently works with its own team to collect data, it has also created a toolkit to enable any individual, organisation, or city to map their transport network. The toolkit includes a purpose-built app, methodology and planning techniques for tackling even the most sprawling cities, and support from the WhereIsMyTransport team to make data available through the platform.

The WhereIsMyTransport platform allows developers, transport operators and government officials to build solutions like journey planners, fare estimators, communications tools and connected digital signage, improving access to public transport information for citizens in emerging cities, as well as providing insight and analytics to aid city planning.

Graeme Leighton, data collection co-ordinator for WhereIsMyTransport, says: “We believe that the information challenge in South African cities undermines our infrastructure. We want to make the systems that exist more accessible for everyone. In Cape Town, every assumption we had about the network was challenged. We discovered dozens of previously unknown routes, and found many documented routes no longer operated.

“We invite others to put their own cities on the map and make their systems more accessible,” he adds “Our tools are available to anyone interested in contributing to our platform, the world’s first open platform for public transport data in emerging cities.”

After extensive consultation and planning, the Athlone cooling towers are to be demolished on Sunday 22 August 2010 at 12:00.

Both towers form part of the decommissioned Athlone coal-fired power station and have become unsafe following the collapse of the strengthening rings around one of them in February. They now need to be demolished in the interests of public safety.

Athlone Towers

The City’s Disaster Risk Management team is monitoring wind speeds, which could cause the towers to collapse, on a daily basis and has a plan in place should they become excessive.

It was decided last week that the towers will come down on Sunday 22 August, as this is a realistic date by which all safety measures can be in place and by when Jet Demolition indicated they will have all their preparation work for the demolition completed. The demolition is not weather dependent and can go ahead even if it rains on the day.

Various City Departments have worked together closely to ensure the demolition will be safe for the public, the surrounding areas and City services.
All the required permits and approvals have been obtained and the necessary site preparation is underway, with particular attention being given to the protection of existing services and safety of both the public and workers involved.

Athlone Towers

The City’s Disaster Risk Management team has compiled a comprehensive disaster risk management plan, which will be followed to ensure the City is prepared for any foreseen emergency that might occur during the demolition process. It will also ensure that the City will be able to act rapidly and effectively to any unexpected incidents that may occur during the demolition.

As numerous roads in the area surrounding the towers, including the N2, will be closed for a few hours on the day, demolishing the towers at 12:00 on a Sunday will minimise traffic disruption as it makes provision for morning traffic volumes and afternoon weekend-ending traffic volumes. Metro rail will also need to close some train lines for a few hours on the day and indicated that closing their lines at noon will cause the least inconvenience to their Sunday customers. Demolishing the towers on a Sunday will also give the public the opportunity to witness the historic event.

The City’s disaster risk management plan makes provision for all the necessary traffic and safety arrangements for the day of the demolition. More detail on the traffic management plan for the day will be communicated to the public closer to the demolition day.

Between now and 22 August, the contractor will secure and protect existing services and drill over 3 000 holes per tower into which the explosive charges will be placed. Although not required by law to prepare an Environmental Management Plan, the consultants compiled one to ensure the safety of the public and the surrounding environment.

New nests have already been placed on the building next to the tower to accommodate the pair of falcons that have been resident on the cooling towers since the 1980s. The birds have already started showing an interest in their new homes.

The eventual re-use of the site in terms of a process for which a final decision has yet to be taken will allow the power station site to be redeveloped in full, to the benefit of the whole area.

Deon Friis, a Cape Town based engineer, left London yesterday (on his birthday) on an epic motorcycle journey on a Inspired by Ewan McGregor. A local South African working as an engineer in London for the last 6 months, he is travelling solo across 11 African countries, over 55 days, on a BMW RS 1200 GS motorbike, in aid of the charity Riders for Health. Please support this wonderful cause, to raise funding ‘Riders for Health’ which is a non-governmental organization dedicated to reaching communities in rural Africa with health care on a regular basis by establishing an infrastructure of reliable and sustainable transportation. Riders for Health mobilise health workers from ministries of health and local organizations, enabling them to reach outlying communities with vital and often life-saving health care.

CyberAfrica has been chosen to provide all digital marketing via social media for this epic journey. We are excited to provide live updates, using the best technologies available on the Internet. Social Media is the pre-eminent social media marketing in the world today— and we are leading the way in “social media for social good.”

CyberAfrica coalesces the strengths of traditional and social media to help its clients –- best-of-class brands, socially-conscious companies and leading charitable organizations elevate brand equity, drive revenue, boost donations, build brand evangelism and catalyze social change. We do good business with good people as we do good in our world.

We are not a public relations firm wearing a social media hat. We are a highly-effective, highly-selective social media firm that helps brands get the most out of social media — whatever their business, whatever their goals. We hand-select a few best-of-class clients each year, which enables us to provide unequalled service and unmatched results.

Social media also gives you the opportunity to tell your own story in your own way. You’re not limited to “the story you think you can sell to the reporter.”

Ian Anderson, the owner and founder of CyberAfrica, chatted to Deon before he left London yesterday. Deon has put everything on line; he has resigned from his job in London, all his personal savings are being used for the trans-African trip, and his wife just lost her job in Cape Town. They also have a three year old daughter to support, but his philanthropic motivation for this cause is very important to him. Speaking to his wife Leone in Cape Town this morning, she supports Deon 100% with what he is doing, and being a South Africa male, she says he needs to follow through his adventurous spirit, and she looks forward to a content Deon when he arrives back.

Follow Deon’s journey on his London 2 The Cape site , and please help donate to the wonderful cause. All donations can be made through a Paypal account for Riders for Health, and we are in the process of opening a South African bank account and credit card donation link.